LESSON SIX - FELLOWSHIP

TEXT:  Acts 2:42

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE WORD "FELLOWSHIP" FROM THE GREEK WORD koinonia IS FOUND A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.  IT IS TRANSLATED THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

          1.       Fellowship( Phil. 1:5 ).

          2.       Contribution( Rom. 15:26;  2 Cor.  9:13 ).

          3.       Communion( 1 Cor. 10:16 ).

          4.       Communication( Gal. 6:6;  Heb. 13:16 ).

B.      LITERALLY TRANSLATED, IT MEANS "JOINT PARTICIPATION" OR "CLOSE ASSOCIATION.  THE EARLY CHURCH CONTINUED STEDFASTLY IN FELLOWSHIP.

I.      THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SAINTS IS WELL ILLUSTRATED IN THE UNITY OF THE BODY.

A.      THERE IS PERFECT AND HARMONY IN THE PHYSICAL BODY.

B.      IN 1 Cor.  12:12-13 THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST( 1 Cor. 12:27 ).

          1.       Where there are factions and divisions in the church the fellowship of that church is destroyed( 1 Cor. 12:25 ).

          2.       So that we might have the fellowship with one another and with God, we

                   must be careful to maintain the unity of goal, purpose, and action as revealed

                   in the perfect standard.

II.     THE BASIS OF THE FELLOWSHIP( 1 John 1:2-4 ).

A.      FELLOWSHIP DEPENDS ON OUR WALKING IN THE LIGHT( 1 John 1:7 ).

B.      ENEMIES WHILE IN SIN( Rom. 5:10 ).

          1.       Reconciled through Christ( 2 Cor. 5:18-20 ).

          2.       Reconciled in one body( Eph. 2:16 ).

C.      IF ONE WALKS IN DARKNESS, HE HAS NO FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, AND THE BASIS FOR OUR FELLOWSHIP IS GONE( Eph. 5:11 ).

III.    THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT CHRISTIANS ARE NOTTO HAVE FELLOWSHIP IN.  WHAT ARE THEY?

A.      NOT WITH THE DEVIL( 1 Cor.  10:20;  James 4:7-8 )

B.      NOT WITH THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS - SIN( Eph. 5:11 ).

C.      NOT WITH UNBELIEVERS( 2 Cor. 6:14f. ).

D.      NOT WITH ERROR( 2 John 9-11 ).

IV.   IN WHAT ARE CHRISTIANS TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP?

A.      IN WORSHIP( Acts 2:42 ).

B.      IN THOUGHT( Phil. 2:5;  4:8;  1 Pet. 3:8 ).

C.      IN WORK( Phil. 1:27;  Eph. 4:11-16 ).

D.      IN SUFFERINGS( 2 Tim. 3:12;  Gal. 6:1-2, 6-10 ).

E.      IN JOYS ( Rom. 12:15;  1 Cor. 12:26 ).

F.      IN SALVATION ( Jude 3;  1 Thes. 4:17-18 ).

G.      Romans 12:9-15.

CONCLUSION:

A.      ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE TODAY IN THE CHURCH IS THE LACK OF FELLOWSHIP IN THE THINGS WE UNDERTAKE.  THOSE OF US WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORK ARE TOO OFTEN WORKING ON OUR OWN.

B.      WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.